Defense Department: Military divorce at lowest rates in a decade

By
Epperson Law Group, PLLC
|April 24, 2016

As a nation, we are eternally grateful to those brave men and women who serve in our nation's armed forces. Indeed, our gratitude not only stems from the understanding that their collective efforts help keep us safe, but also from the understanding of the great personal sacrifices they make while wearing a uniform.

Indeed, while most of us understand how the long hours, trainings at distant locations and prolonged deployments to dangerous locales can affect military marriages, we might not have a full grasp of just how great of a toll these realities can exact over the course of time.

Indeed, consider that statistics reveal that back in 2001, just prior to the start of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the military divorce rate was 2.6 percent among officers and enlisted personnel and that this number quickly jumped to 3.7 percent by 2011.

As alarming as these figures are, the good news is that the rate of military divorce has actually declined on a year-to-year basis since that time. Indeed, recently released figures from the Department of Defense reveal that as of 2015 the divorce rate among officer and enlisted personnel was 3 percent, a drop of .10 percent from 2014 and the lowest figure in ten years.

Perhaps not surprisingly, experts theorize that the continued decline in the rate of divorce can be attributed to the nation's gradual exit from a stressful period of military action and entrance into a relatively stable period characterized by considerably less deployment.

Here's hoping that we continue to see these numbers decline …

Whether you are an active duty member of the military or a civilian spouse, it's imperative to consider speaking with an experienced legal professional if you are considering a divorce, as there are a host of complex issues requiring careful consideration.

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